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Toddlers and roof terraces

77 replies

MollFlounders · 13/07/2009 16:43

Hi, this could equally be an AIBU but I'd just like some views on the following. DH and I have lived for a few years in a lovely flat on a river. We have great views and a nice glass balcony over the river, 4 floors up. We now have DD, aged 9 months, and need more space and want to move. I really want to move into a house. Our balcony scares me (DD is already cruising). I know houses have their own dangers with stairs etc but I'd love our outdoor space to be a nice groundfloor garden where we can open up the back doors and let DD run around in the grass and keep an eye on her from the kitchen. DH thinks that moving into a house is letting our lives be dictated by a baby and that it would be fine if we found a similar flat to what we have now but with an extra bedroom and a roof terrace instead of a balcony. He says we'll simply supervise DD (and any other DC- he wants more than one) at all times and not let her onto the roof terrace alone. This worries me- even with just DD to look after, I don't think it's realistic. I guess we could gate off the roof terrace but it just seems to add an element of household risk that you don't have in a garden. Money isn't a problem- the flats he likes cost the same as the houses I like. We'd have to change areas (our current area is flats only) but our commutes wouldn't change (we walk to work).

What do you think? I know there are millions of people living in flats with kids. It's just that we're in the fortunate position of being able to buy a house. Or am I being a bit precious?

OP posts:
Rosemallow · 27/05/2011 09:10

My DP was a little bit like this - he thought we didn't need to move in December (DD is 2.3 and DS is 3 months).
We live in a lovely flat overlooking the river in a city too and although we have a balcony and communal gardens I want to live in a house. I can't have anything out on the balcony for fear of DD climbing on it and she can't go out there unsupervised and the gardens have lots of steps and again, she can't be unsupervised there.
I knew he would come to the realisation eventually and after a visit to a relative with a huge garden, where DD was able to go bug hunting and be left to her own devices he agreed we need to move to a house and said he had been very selfish.
It is unrealistic of your DH to expect things to stay the same and I agree that a little gentle persuasion and visits to friends/family with gardens wouldn't hurt!

Grin at 'rentakid'
Good luck!

Rosemallow · 27/05/2011 09:12

Doh! Just realised this is an old thread!

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